One Nation faces being struck off in Queensland after failing to file audited financial statements with the state's regulator, exposing party leader Pauline Hanson and New South Wales senator Sean Bell to possible financial penalties. Hanson is registered as president and Bell as secretary for the party in Queensland, where it is headquartered.
Repeated failures
The party has failed to lodge three years of audited financial reports, and previously faced scrutiny over missing or worthless assets exceeding $1 million that it has refused to explain. Guardian Australia reported last month that One Nation repeatedly missed legal requirements for running an incorporated association, including failing to hold annual general meetings on time and filing annual and financial reports late.
Regulator sets deadline
In June, Queensland’s Office of Fair Trading requested compliance. The party lodged overdue annual returns on 3 July, but without proper financial statements. “One Nation Queensland Division Inc has lodged its annual returns to the OFT for the years 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, but these returns did not include the audited financial statements as required by the Associations Incorporation Act 1981,” a regulator spokesperson said. “The Office of Fair Trading has given the association until 18 August 2026 to lodge the outstanding financial statements.”
Potential consequences
Failure to meet the deadline may trigger an investigation and enforcement action, including infringement notices or a “show cause” notice, the first step toward cancellation of the association's incorporation. Barrister Michael Bradley of Marque Lawyers said there is no legal requirement for a registered political party to be an incorporated association, but the structure provides centralized legal control. “To be registered as a political party, you don’t have to be a recognised legal entity. It’s a more amorphous concept,” Bradley said. “If the association is deregistered, then it’s like a company being wound up, so it would have to go through a similar sort of process. For electoral law purposes, if it is registered as a political entity … then that registration would have to cease, so … it could have significant consequences politically. But it would also be easily replaced by a new entity, so it wouldn’t be the end of Pauline Hanson.”
Treasurer's legal issue
Under the act, management committee members must ensure financial statements are lodged or face penalties. According to the party’s latest update, Hanson and Bell hold president and secretary roles, with Alex Jones as treasurer. In 2023, Jones pleaded guilty to attempted electoral fraud over a $24,000 claim and was fined $1,000 with no conviction recorded. One Nation has been contacted for comment.
